Civil Servants Union urge doctors to go back to work, negotiate in good faith

December 9, 2016 4:38 pm

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In a statement, Secretary General Tom Odege stated that as a union, they cannot remain silent while Kenyans are suffering/FILE

By SIMON NDONGA, NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 9 – The Union of Kenya Civil Servants is appealing to health workers to end the current strike and give dialogue a chance.

In a statement, Secretary General Tom Odege stated that as a union, they cannot remain silent while Kenyans are suffering.

He however indicated that both sides in the negotiations must go about it with the good will it deserves.

“We would like to urge doctors and other health workers to go back to the table and negotiate as they resume work. Kenyans have suffered enough and we cannot keep quiet.

His sentiments follow indications by the Kenya National Union of Nurses that talks are progressing well and they hope to reach a solution by the end of Friday.

The Union’s Secretary General Seth Panyako said once the talks conclude, the union will hold its national governing council meeting where a decision to call off the strike will be made.

Doctors remained adamant that they will only call off the industrial action following the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2013.

On Thursday, doctors dug in their heels after consultants from the Kenyatta National Hospital joined in the strike which began on Monday.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Ouma Oluga emphasized that they will accept nothing less than the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2013.

While apologizing to Kenyans who have been affected by the strike, the Union’s chairman Samuel Oroko stated that the blame is squarely on the government for not being sensitive with their demands.

Doctors union officials abandoned the talks insisting on a 300 per cent increase as outlined in a Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2013.

Earlier, a group of medical practitioners also held demonstrations to Afya House to press the government on their pay demands.

In agreement with their union officials, the practitioners vowed to remain put till the Government honours the disputed CBA, which they say will harmonize their salary across all Counties.